Wrench.



G. A. DUPLANTIS.

WRENCH.

N FILED s2 APPLICAT T. 23, 1914. 1,137,709. Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

TTED STATES PATENT @FFTGE.

GASTON ALFRED DUPLANTIS, OF GOVINGTON, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO LEONARD C. MOISE, OF COVINGTON, LOUISIANA.

WRENCH.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GAsToN ALFRED DU- PLANTIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Covington, in the parish of St. Tammany and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to wrenches and consists in improvements in wrenches of the type more particularly adapted for use in connection with nuts and bolts; although it will be understood that the invention may have a broader application, and extends to all the uses to which a wrench of this construction may be put.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wrench of this character which will be strong and of durable construction; and which will be efficient, and simply and conveniently operated to engage nuts, bolts or other objects to turn the same in the required direction, and as readily removed from the same after the operation is completed.

A further object of the present invention resides in providing a wrench which will be constructed of a minimum number of parts; and each part whereof will be simple and economical of manufacture and readily assembled to form the wrench.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure l is a perspective view of a wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention, and illustrated in open position; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the wrench in closed position; and Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated, 1 designates a shank or tang, and constructed integral with the Specification of Letters Patent. Pad gnted Apr, 27 1915 Application filed September 23, 1914.

Serial No. 863,117.

same is a fixed jaw 2, tapered as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and provided at its outer free end with an operating face 3. The shank 1 and jaw 2, as likewise the remaining parts of the wrench, may be constructed of steel, wrought iron, or any other material found suitable for the purpose.

To the base of the fixed jaw 2 a yoke piece 4, preferably constructed substantially =U-shaped as herein shown, is connected by a pivot pin 5. The yoke piece 4: is arranged to rock on the pivot 5 and the face of the jaw 2 may be recessed, as indicated at 6, to admit of this movement.

Cooperating with the fixed jaw 2 is a movable jaw 7, constructed tapered, as shown, and provided at its outer free end with an operating face 8, complementary to the face 3 of the fixed jaw 2. The movable jaw 7 is rigidly connected by rivets 9, or other suitable means, between the ends of the yoke piece 4, and, as indicated in Fig. 2, when closed the movable jaw is arranged to lie in contact with the fixed jaw substantially throughout the length thereof, and is provided with a reverse taper 10 on the inner face of the base thereof, opposite the fixed jaw 2. Such tapered portion 10 permits free movement of the movable jaw 7 in opening and closing, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The movable aw 7 is further, preferably, of a length slightly greater than that of the fixed jaw 2 so that, when in the closed position in Fig. 2, the same extends slightly beyond said fixed and when opened the movable aw will swing downwardly so as to bring the operating faces 3 and 8 approximately opposite each other for cooperating to clamp the nut, or other object, therebetween.

Slidably mounted upon the tapered jaws 2 and 7 is a sleeve 11 for operating to close the movable jaw 7 when the sleeve is moved upon the enlarged base portions thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. Each jaw 2 and 7 is provided with oppositely-disposed flanges 12 for confining the sleeve 11 and preventing the accidental withdrawal of the same from engagement with said jaws. As advantageously shown in Fig. 2 the movable jaw 7 is provided with a reversely-tapering outer face, adjacent the base thereof, and indicated at 13, and the same is arranged to lie hold the jaws closed during transportation and when the wrench is not in use.

In operating the sleeve 11 is moved outwardly uponthe jaws of the wrench, and,

thereby permits the separation of the movable jaw 7 from the fixed jaw; whereupon the operating faces 3 and 8 of the jaws are fitted to the nut or other object to beturned. The sleeve 11 isthen drawn toward the operator, and, moving over the tapered faces of the aws, tends to tighten the engagement thereof upon the nut. The operator turns the wrench in the desired direction, and after the operation the sleeve 11 may be again moved outwardly to permit separation of the jaws and disengagement from the nut.

I am aware that wrenches of this broad characterare old and well known, and I do not claim this type of wrench broadly as my invention. 1

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory constructions, but obviously changes could be made in the hereindescribed apparatus without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. In a wrench of the character described, the combination of a tapered fixed jaw, a U- shaped yoke, a pivot pin passing through the base of said fixed jaw and the opposite members of said yoke for mounting thelatter to rock on the aw, the free ends of said yoke projecting beyond the jaw base, a'

tapered movable jaw of relatively greater length over said fixed jaw and arranged to lie in contact therewith when the wrench is closed, means for rigidly securing the base of "said movable jaw between the outer free ends of said U-shaped yoke whereby the movable jawinay rock about said pivot, lateral flanges formed on the free ends of said jaws, a slidable sleeve confined between said flanges and yoke and arranged to close said movable jaw when forced to-ward the latter,

and areversely-tapered outer basal face on A tially as described.

said movable jaw arranged to lie parallel with the outer face of the fixed jaw when the wrench is closed to constitute a rectangular seat for snugly receiving said sleeve whereby to maintain the parts of the wrench against accidental opening when not in use, substan- 2. In a wrench of the character described, the combination of a tapered fixed jaw provided with a recess located in the outer face of the enlarged base thereof, a separately made U-shaped yoke, a pivot pin passing through the base of said fixed jaw and the opposite members of said yoke for mounting the latter to rock on the jaw, the closedend of said yoke being adapted to rock in the recess in said jaw and the free ends thereof projecting beyond the same, a tapered movable of relatively greater length'over said fixed jawand arranged to lie in contact therewith length thereof when the wrench is closed, rivets for securing the base of said movable jaw between the outer free ends of said U- substantially throughout the shaped yoke whereby the movable jaw may b rock about said pivot, lateral flanges formed on the free ends of each of said jaws, a slidable sleeve confined between said flanges and yoke and arranged to close said movable jaw when forced toward the yoke, a re versely-t'apered outer basal face on said movable jaw arranged to'lie parallel with the outer face of the fixed jaw when the wrench .is closed to constitute a rectangular seat for snugly receiving said sleeve and frictionally maintaining the parts against accidental movement during transportation and when not in use, and a reversely-tapered inner basal face on said movable jaw for permitting the rocking thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GASTON ALFRED DUPLANTIS, U

Witnesses:

J. B. CAssEDY, F. B. TRINsHEAD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, H Washington, D. G. 

